GAINESVILLE — Growing up, Jack O’Keefe heard the stories.
The Gainesville native and UF fifth-year senior understood the excellence of the Gators. As a child, he remembered the national titles of 2006, ‘07 and ‘08. As a student, though, he waited for his flashbulb memory — ones shared by UF students throughout the eras.
Where were you when Chris Chiozza beat Wisconsin? Where were you when Ahmad Black decked Oklahoma? Where were you when Danny Wuerffel put up 48 unanswered on Tennessee?
Saturday night, O’Keefe got his: Where were you when Walter Clayton Jr. carried Florida basketball to the Final Four?
Turns out he experienced it in the area where moments of sorrow and jubilation have been felt for decades – just across UF’s campus at MacDinton’s Irish Pub (formerly Social at Midtown until a few months ago).
I watched Florida’s Elite Eight game vs. Texas Tech at the bar – along with hundreds of Gator fans of all ages – and underwent the same feelings you all felt, whether in San Francisco, Gainesville or throughout the Gator nation.
A confidence early on
The first traces of “Go Gators” came on the corner of NW 13th Street and 3rd Ave. So much has changed on that block since UF’s last trip to the Final Four in 2014, but two things remained constant Saturday – the orange and blue paraphernalia and the Krispy Kreme with its ever-present massive sign.
In Midtown, students were ready to party, and the bars knew it. MadecDinton’s charged $40 for entry, but many students decided to pay. After all, moments of celebration have been rare in Gainesville. A current UF senior has experienced one winning football season and zero NCAA Tournament wins. Sure, baseball and softball have had massive success, but those sports hold their championships in the summer when many students have left town.
The buzz on the streets was electric. I’ve lived in Gainesville since 2018, and I had never seen this much excitement for a basketball game. It surpassed most football games in those seven years. Once the game tipped off, fans became glued to every TV. Many probably hadn’t heard of Thomas Haugh three weeks ago, but he and others became beloved immediately.
That air of confidence continued for much of the first half, even as Florida struggled and took a three-point lead into the locker room. After all, it led Maryland by just two Thursday and exploded to a double-digit win.
No smiles left
Once it became clear Texas Tech wasn’t Maryland, the vibes began to change.
First, it was a quiet understanding – realizing this would be more UConn and less Maryland. As the Red Raiders’ lead grew, and the Gators couldn’t hit the side of a ship, the worry became a full-blown panic.
The yells at referees for missing a foul, or for UF failing to secure another offensive rebound grew to a fever pitch.
O’Keefe said his confidence got low, but he never allowed doubt ...
